Tomasz Wadowski
This is the end of a certain technological ambition. Sony has officially confirmed in a conversation with the portal FlatpanelsHD that it no longer intends to produce 8K televisions. After the Z9K model, presented in 2022, the company does not plan any further devices with this resolution. Furthermore – the Z9K has already been withdrawn from stores, and Sony's 8K line has practically been phased out.
8K in Retreat, but Not Without Reason
For many, this may come as a surprise, but Sony's decision is actually not shocking. The company has never chased the competition with annual releases – instead, it has adopted a calmer, two-year update cycle. The Z9K has managed to stay on the market for an exceptionally long time, lasting three years and covering the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
But the lack of 8K content is telling – aside from a few videos on YouTube, it's hard to find decent material that truly utilizes this resolution. Even the PlayStation 5 consoles, while promoted with 8K support, have no games that natively use such a high resolution. Sony, although heavily promoting its new console PS5 Pro with 8K support through HDMI 2.1, knows well that 8K gaming is more about marketing than a real necessity.
Time for 4K, QD-OLED, and Mini-LED
Instead of 8K, Sony is now focusing on improving 4K televisions. Later this year, a new Bravia 8 II model based on QD-OLED technology will hit the market, equipped with a smart AI-based processor that aims to enhance colors and image accuracy. Next year, the company plans to debut its first Mini-LED televisions with proprietary RGB LED backlighting, providing even more precise local dimming, which could significantly improve contrast in LCD televisions.
Samsung sticks with 8K, but the rest are retreating
Sony is thus joining the ranks of companies that are moving away from 8K resolution, having previously made similar decisions, including LG and several other manufacturers. The only major player still actively developing and promoting 8K TVs is Samsung, which will introduce as many as two new models with that resolution in 2025. This includes the successor to the QN900D we tested.
8K is also still being produced by some Chinese brands, but they do not enter the European market due to energy restrictions.
Will 8K return in the future? Sony has not completely closed the door, but everything points to the fact that in the coming years the company will focus on technologies that are more useful for everyday use – better OLED panels, strong Mini-LEDs, and proprietary image algorithms.
Source: FlatpanelsHD
